While exploring the city of Mumbai there is so much you can explore here. The city has a lot of historical relevance attached to it. And to explore the history of the city the ideal locations to visit will always be locations that hold historical importance too. One such important temple is the Mumba Devi Temple. The Mumba Devi Temple Mumbai is one such temple which the people consider really powerful. Also according to beliefs the city of Mumbai got its name from the name of the Goddess itself. So now you can understand how much importance this temple holds for the devotees. So if you are in Mumbai then you must visit this temple once.
Keep on reading this article as I will mention everything that you probably need to know about the Mumba Devi Temple in Mumbai. This will be a helpful read for you if you are planning a visit to this temple in Mumbai.
Mumba Devi Temple
Mumba Devi Temple address: The Mumba Devi Temple location is Mumbadevi Area, Mumba Devi Marg, Zaveri Bazar, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Timings: Mumba Devi Temple timings are from 6 am to 9 pm on all days from Tuesday to Sunday. Monday is a closed day. Aarti timings at the temple are 7 am in the morning and 7 pm in the evening.
Entry fee: There is no entry fee
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How to reach
By air
If you are travelling by air then the nearest airport to reach the temple would be the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. From the airport the temple is located at a distance of 18.5 km. It would take about an hour to reach the temple from the airport. You can easily take a cab or take a car to reach the temple from there conveniently.
By train
You can reach the Mumba Devi Temple by train as well and in that case the Mumba Devi Temple nearest station is the Chhatrapati Shivaji Railway Station. CST to Mumba Devi Temple distance is 2.2 km and you can reach there in about 12 minutes. However in terms of local trains the Charni Road Railway Station is the nearest railway station to reach this temple. From the station the temple is 2.6 km away. You can easily reach the temple in about 15 minutes from the railway station. Also Masjid station to Mumba Devi Temple distance is about 1.3 km and you can reach there in about 10 minutes. Another major railway station to reach the temple is the Mumbai Central Railway Station. From there the temple is 3 km away and you can reach there in about 16 minutes.
By road
The roadways in Mumbai are well connected through National Highways. So technically you can reach here from all major cities and towns. Buses are also available from locations like Pune, Nashik, Nagpur etc. You will get both private as well as state run buses plying on this route regularly to reach the temple. Also if you are travelling within the city then the most convenient way to travel would be the city buses that you can opt for. Or else you can take a taxi or hire a cab from anywhere to reach this temple in Mumbai. In case you wish to travel via your own vehicle you can do that as well. However if you are travelling from nearby locations then you can also opt for auto rickshaws to travel smaller distances as well.
Best time to visit
You can visit here anytime of the year to offer your prayers to the Goddess. However for the most comfort it would be ideal to visit here during the cooler months. From October to March the weather remains pleasant which will be comfortable for a visit here. It would take around 30 minutes for you to explore the whole temple and offer pooja here. But on crowded days there can be a queue as well so keep that in mind. You can also visit this temple during the festival of Navaratri. Navaratri is the major festival of this temple and is celebrated here with much grandeur. There are special rituals and ceremonies that take place during this time. So you will be able to enjoy a different side of the temple if you are visiting here during that time.
Avoid visiting here during the hot and humid months of summer though. It would be too uncomfortable to visit here in the scorching heat. Also the monsoon season might dampen the spirit of your visit with incessant rainfall. So plan your trip accordingly. And in terms of the best time of the day, try to visit here during the morning to offer prayers more peacefully.
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Overview
Located in Bhuleshwar the Mumba Devi Temple in Mumbai is one of the major temples for Shakti worship. It is a powerful and an important temple for the devotees and everyday a major chunk of visitors visit here. Dedicated to Goddess Mumbadevi the deity is majorly the guardian goddess of the Koli tribe of fishermen. In fact the city of Mumbai is also named after the Goddess as well. Goddess Mumbadevi is one of the revered Goddesses that the city dwellers follow a lot. Located amidst the narrow alleys of the Zaveri Bazar the temple looks elegant in its appearance.
The Goddess is considered extremely powerful by the local people. Moreover there are local people here who visit the temple every single day as well. Especially for the morning aarti and the evening aarti, more local people visit here. On a daily basis this temple marks a good number of footfalls. But during major occasions like Navaratri the number increases even more. People from the city and beyond visit here during special festivals to seek the blessings of the deity.
Also the temple authorities here decorate the temple beautifully during festivals. So that just elevates the beauty of the temple a few notches higher. Furthermore the authorities of this temple do not take any entry fee from the devotees. They however do have a Trust who maintains the temple, rituals and activities. However people visiting here can donate whatever they feel like and if they want. And the temple solely runs on such donations. So if you are visiting here you can donate something too. This is undoubtedly one of the most popular and powerful temples in Mumbai. So whenever you are visiting there make sure you are visiting this temple to seek blessings from the Goddess.
History of Mumba Devi Temple
The history of this temple is also associated with a popular legend. According to a popular legend once there was a powerful demon Mumbaraka. He was extremely aggressive and used to terrorise the local people all the time. However to get respite from the demon the local people started praying to Lord Brahma. Furthermore to kill the demon Lord Brahma sent an eight armed Goddess. The Goddess could finally defeat Mumbaraka. But after his defeat Mumbaraka asked for forgiveness from the Goddess. Also he promised her that he would build a temple dedicated to her.
However the temple that we see currently is not the original temple. The originally built temple was located near the area of present day Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus or Victoria Terminus. During the 1740s the original temple was destroyed. The Koli community were great devotees of Goddess Mumba Devi. Later they built another temple, and this is the present day temple that we visit.
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Architecture of Mumba Devi Temple
Shri Mumbadevi Temple is one of the finest temples that followed the classic Hindu style of architecture. You can find a high spire with a red flag that flies on top of the temple. Also there are prominent and beautiful carvings on the exterior walls of the temple. The idol of Goddess Mumbadevi is equally enchanting here. She wears a golden necklace, a silver crown and a nose stud as well. This form of the Goddess represents the Earth. The idol is also different from other Shakti forms as she doesn’t have a mouth. Other than that the temple also has other deities like that of Goddess Annapurna, Lord Ganesha and Lord Hanuman. In front of the shrine you will find a sculpture of a fierce tiger which is one of the major attractions of the architecture of this temple.
Things to do at Mumba Devi Temple
Worship and offer prayer
Offering prayer to the Goddess and seeking her blessings is obviously the most important thing to do when you are visiting this temple. The local people and specifically the Koli community worship the deity here as their guardian deity. They also believe that the Goddess here can grant your wishes if you pray here sincerely. So when you are visiting here, make sure you are offering flowers and sweets to the Goddess and offer your prayers. There are multiple stalls here that sell various flowers and other necessary items for pooja. So you can buy things from there to worship in the temple.
Attend morning and evening aartis
The morning and evening aartis create a majestic atmosphere in the temple. Majority of the people and mostly the locals here attend the aartis every single day. While the priest chants the mantras the temple fills with a majestic aura. The incense sticks and candles lights up the whole premise as well. So you can definitely visit here during the morning and evening to attend the aarti here.
Explore the shops nearby
There are multiple shops that you can find near the temple premises. These shops sell all sorts of items regarding pooja. You can buy sweets and flowers from here to offer pooja at the temple as well. Other than that the shops also sell things like photographs of the deity, copper bracelets, and small idols of the Goddess etc which you can explore here.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about the Mumbadevi Temple in Mumbai. And you surely need to visit this temple if you are in Mumbai. Visit this temple and pray with a clean heart and maybe your wishes might get fulfilled too. So let me know when you are planning a visit to this temple in Mumbai. And don’t forget to let me know if this article is helpful for you in planning a trip to this temple in Mumbai.
